'Revolutionary change aimed for building maintenance'
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam on Sunday said the government’s efforts to amend the law following the deadly Wang Fuk Court inferno aim to make a "revolutionary change" to the entire building maintenance ecosystem in Hong Kong. His remarks came as authorities plan to submit legislative amendments to the Legislative Council within this year to reform the building maintenance and renovation system,…
Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, announced plans to enact sweeping legislative changes to the building maintenance system in response to a recent tragic incident. The government's goal is to fundamentally transform the industry and eliminate corrupt practices that have stifled competition and driven honest professionals away.
Lam explained that the legal framework currently in place is inadequate to address the pervasive issue of bid-rigging, which has led to a monopolistic market dominated by unethical contractors. He urged authorities to take decisive action to remove these bad actors from the market, enabling honest professionals to once again participate and thrive.
In addition to rooting out corruption, Lam emphasized the importance of supporting homeowners in finding reliable contractors. The government will work to ensure that all construction work is carried out safely and in accordance with the law. The proposed amendments to the building maintenance law are expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council within the year, with a target passage date of April next year, according to Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Algernon Yau.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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